Jury comes back with verdict in fatal RTA bus driver accident

CLEVELAND -- A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas jury found a former RTA bus driver guilty of vehicular homicide, negligence.  That is a misdemeanor and lesser charge from the original aggravated vehicular homicide, that the jury was deliberating.

Angela Williams, 50, of Cleveland, was driving an RTA bus when she struck and killed Patrick Merrill, 59, in March.

Judge Shirley Strickland-Saffold sentenced Williams to the maximum six months in jail.

The aggravated vehicular homicide charge carried a five-year prison term.

After dismissing the jury, Judge Strickland-Saffold addressed Williams in open court, questioning her actions the day of the accident.

Records presented in court showed Williams' received a call on  her cell phone, just moments before the bus hit and struck Merrill, who was a pedestrian.

RTA prohibits the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while operating busses, trains or other RTA vehicles.

Williams was fired from RTA.